Curtis Carroll of Belchertown released on conditions after threatening building inspector

Photo by Lori Stabile / The RepublicanCurtis B. Carroll, 46, of 25 Main St., Belchertown, stands in Eastern Hampshire District Court Thursday during a dangerousness hearing. He was arrested Wednesday after allegedly making threats that he would get a gun and start shooting anyone involved with a landscaping project at a dental office near his home.
BELCHERTOWN – A 46-year-old Main Street man was released on conditions by a judge in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Thursday, a day after he was arrested at gunpoint and charged with making threats in connection with a landscaping project at a dentist’s office next to his house.
Curtis B. Carroll, of 25 Main St., was in court for a dangerousness hearing, but one of the people he was accused of threatening, Building Inspector Paul J. Adzima, said he did not consider Carroll a threat and said Carroll was just “venting” in his office about the project.
Judge Laurie Macleod dismissed two of the more serious charges against Carroll, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to murder, following a request by defense attorney Jonah S. Goldsmith.
“There is not probable cause to support those counts,” Goldsmith said. “There was no specific threat ... My understanding is that no gun has ever been recovered.”
Assistant District Attorney Benjamin P. Mann said Carroll told Adzima he kissed his wife goodbye, which alarmed officials.
Adzima said Carroll came in to his office between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. Wednesday and wanted him to stop the project at Valley Dentist at 23 Main St.
Adzima said there have been ongoing issues between Carroll and the dentist’s office regarding drainage problems, and that he has talked to Carroll many times about it over the years.
Adzima said he told the town administrator about the incident because Carroll was more upset than normal. The town administrator advised Adzima to call police, he said.
Adzima said Carroll told him he had a gun and was going to “go down the list” of people involved in the project. Before he made the threat, Carroll was critical of the town planner, public works department director, Historical Commission chairwoman, and contractor, he said. Adzima said Carroll also made the “told his wife goodbye” comment.
“It concerned me enough to call the town administrator,” Adzima added.
But Adzima said he has known Carroll a long time, and he never felt he was in any danger.
Macleod placed Carroll, who is self-employed, on the following conditions as part of his release: he must stay away from the dentist’s office and Town Hall, as well as the public works department director, town planner, contractor and Historical Commission chairwoman, and must forfeit all firearms. He also must report to probation once a week.
Adzima, who was supposed to be on the stay-away list, said he does not have a problem with Carroll, and does not need to be on it.
Macleod continued the case to June 21 for a pretrial hearing. Carroll still faces five counts of threatening to commit a crime. He pleaded innocent at his arraignment on Wednesday.
After the hearing, Adzima said the landscaping project began this week and involves the construction of a wall between Carroll’s and the dentist’s property that is less than 4 feet tall.
Mann had asked for Carroll to be fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, citing his prior criminal record which includes assault and battery on a police officer, but the judge denied the request.